Former City Council member Jan Drago to run for Port Commission

Former City Council member Jan Drago is re-entering public life, again, with a run for the Seattle Port Commission.

Drago submitted an application to be appointed to the seat Gael Tarleton vacates this month. Tarleton is stepping down because she was elected to the state Legislature. The seat will be up for election in 2013, and Drago said she is likely to run for it whether she wins the appointment this spring or not. Candidates have until Friday at noon to apply for the position. The Port Commission will invite up to 20 applicants to its Feb. 5 meeting to make a presentation, and select a candidate in March.

By applying, Drago is returning to politics for the second time. She served on the Seattle City Council for 16 years, and ran an unsuccessful campaign for Seattle mayor in 2009. Then, she was appointed to fill a vacant seat on the King County Council. She did not run again for the seat.

Now Drago, 72, says she wants to work on the issues the Port faces: job creation, tourism, international trade.

Several other names of possible candidates are circulating. Former Bellevue City Council candidate Vicki Orrico said she intends to apply. Orrico, a former lawyer who now runs a consulting firm, said her experience implementing strategic plans would be a value to the Port, which has a new 20-year Century Agenda it needs to make a reality.

Both Drago and Orrico said the all-male commission is looking for some gender diversity, and in Orrico’s case, geographic diversity. Of the sitting commissioners, only John Creighton lives on the Eastside.

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Politics Northwest is the go-to blog for politics in our region. The blog explores national, state and local political news and issues. Reporters from Washington, D.C., to Seattle City Hall to the state capital in Olympia contribute. Editors are Richard Wagoner and Beth Kaiman.